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Disclaimer: I posted this in another topic a couple weeks ago, but, since I'm a sucker for polls and numbers, I figured I'd post it here to see what my peers think.
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My opinion.
Many people think all classes/types should be equally playable. I fundamentally disagree with that. I think some classes/types should be easier and others should be harder. This keeps the game engaging for players of all skill levels.
Here's a visual example.
In the first image, all ships are equally playable for all skill ranges. Server averages in terms of win rate, damage, etcetera will be similar.
In the next example, each class/type has a different skill floor and ceiling. This means that Average Joe will perform well in classes A and B, but he will perform poorly in classes C and D. It also means that a high skilled player will perform better in classes C and D than he will in A and B because he is able to maximize their potential. Buffing class C or D such that the skill floor is lower means that the skill ceiling will also increase, making the game "too easy" for higher skilled individuals. Making changes such that the floor is lower while the ceiling remains static is extremely difficult, and it usually involves tampering with the core mechanics of the game.
People often cite the server averages for different classes/types as evidence for buffs or nerfs. Unfortunately, this is extremely shortsighted. It's important to keep in mind what the ships can do in the hands of an average player and what they can do in the hands of a good player. Game balance is a complicated and unenviable job.
Here's an example of server statistics often cited for DD survivability buffs.
Ships which utilize concealment as their primary means of survival will ALWAYS have a lower average survival rate because utilizing concealment takes a deeper understanding of the game. Armor and HP are generally more forgiving to newcomers, inexperienced players, or average players.
Destroyers are the most reliant on concealment, followed by cruisers, and then battleships. The survival % follows this trend. When I look at graphs like this, I see that the game is working exactly as designed.
Cheers,
KW
EDIT: There's absolutely nothing to be ashamed of if you're "average". If you're enjoying the game, you're playing it exactly as it's meant to be played, for fun. The game needs ALL the players in this game... the good, the bad, and the average. This game wouldn't exist if only the top 1% played it.